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close| Location | Austria, Niederösterreich |
| Central coordinates | 16o 43.00' East 48o 8.00' North |
| IBA criteria | C6 |
| Area | 10,115 ha |
| Altitude | 140 - 150m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2009 |
Ornithological information The site is important for forest species, particularly breeding raptors and woodpeckers.
Site description The IBA is the only remaining large riverine forest on a free flowing stretch of the Danube in Austria. Close to the river Salix and Populus dominate, whilst in other areas the forest is dominated by Fraxinus, Quercus and Ulmus. Artificial Populus plantations have replaced the natural forest in many places. The forest is interspersed with oxbow lakes, fringed by reedbeds (Phragmites). Human activities include forestry, recreation and angling.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Kite Milvus migrans | breeding | 1989 | 18-19 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla | resident | 2000-2005 | 2-3 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | resident | 2005 | 19 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius | resident | 1997-2005 | 160-320 breeding pairs | medium | C6 | Least Concern |
| Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis | breeding | 1997-2005 | frequent [units unknown] | - | C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donau - Auen | National Park | 2,269 | protected area contained by site | 7,065 |
|
| Donau--Auen östlich von Wien | Birds Directive | 11,741 | protected area contains site | 9,500 | |
| Donau-March-Thaya-Auen | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 36,090 | protected area contains site | 9,500 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest | 80% |
| Grassland | Mesophile grasslands | 5% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 15% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 80% |
| agriculture | 5% |
| not utilised | 15% |
Management considerations Intensification of forestry is continuing outside the National Park. Recreational use causes widespread disturbance. Plans are underway to restore oxbow lakes and to halt forestry in some parts of the National Park.
Protection status National High International High7,065 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Donau-Auen, 7,065 ha). 9,500 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Donau-Auen östlich von Wien, 11,741 ha). 9,500 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Donau-March-Auen, 38,500 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Riverine forests on the Danube east of Vienna. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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